diff --git a/src/main/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/ConsoleLogParser.java b/src/main/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/ConsoleLogParser.java
index 493c8390..2e22d713 100644
--- a/src/main/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/ConsoleLogParser.java
+++ b/src/main/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/ConsoleLogParser.java
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ private ConsoleLogParser.Result parseFromStart(InputStream inputStream,
   private ConsoleLogParser.Result parseFromFinish(InputStream inputStream)
       throws IOException {
     ConsoleLogParser.Result result = new ConsoleLogParser.Result();
+    result.lineNumber = -1;
 
     int value = inputStream.read();
     result.atNewLine = isNewLine(value);
diff --git a/src/main/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/io/TimestampsReader.java b/src/main/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/io/TimestampsReader.java
index 8c14f45a..2feae51b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/io/TimestampsReader.java
+++ b/src/main/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/io/TimestampsReader.java
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public void skip(int count) throws IOException {
   public int getAbs(int lineNumber) throws IOException {
     int toSkip = lineNumber * (-1);
 
-    for (int i = 0; i <= toSkip; i++) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < toSkip; i++) {
       read();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/ConsoleLogParserTest.java b/src/test/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/ConsoleLogParserTest.java
index c3f6779b..56c0493f 100644
--- a/src/test/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/ConsoleLogParserTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/ConsoleLogParserTest.java
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ public void testSeekWithinLineNegative_isBuilding() throws Exception {
   public void testSeekWithinLineNegative_notBuilding() throws Exception {
     assumeThat(isBuilding, is(false));
     ConsoleLogParser.Result result = new ConsoleLogParser.Result();
-    result.lineNumber = -4;
+    result.lineNumber = -5;
     assertThat(seek(1 - logLength), is(result));
   }
 
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ public void testSeekNextLineNegative_isBuilding() throws Exception {
   public void testSeekNextLineNegative_notBuilding() throws Exception {
     assumeThat(isBuilding, is(false));
     ConsoleLogParser.Result result = new ConsoleLogParser.Result();
-    result.lineNumber = -3;
+    result.lineNumber = -4;
     result.atNewLine = true;
     assertThat(seek(2 - logLength), is(result));
   }
diff --git a/src/test/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/TimestampAnnotatorTest.java b/src/test/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/TimestampAnnotatorTest.java
index 866e88e1..2583e2bb 100644
--- a/src/test/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/TimestampAnnotatorTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/hudson/plugins/timestamper/annotator/TimestampAnnotatorTest.java
@@ -128,6 +128,17 @@ public void testStartOfLogFile() throws Exception {
     assertThat(annotate(), is(timestamps));
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @throws Exception
+   */
+  @Test
+  public void testStartOfLogFile_negativeLineNumber() throws Exception {
+    List<Timestamp> timestamps = writeTimestamps(2);
+    logPosition.lineNumber = -2;
+    logPosition.atNewLine = true;
+    assertThat(annotate(), is(timestamps));
+  }
+
   /**
    * @throws Exception
    */
@@ -139,6 +150,17 @@ public void testWithinFirstLine() throws Exception {
     assertThat(annotate(), is(timestamps.subList(1, 2)));
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @throws Exception
+   */
+  @Test
+  public void testWithinFirstLine_negativeLineNumber() throws Exception {
+    List<Timestamp> timestamps = writeTimestamps(2);
+    logPosition.lineNumber = -2;
+    logPosition.atNewLine = false;
+    assertThat(annotate(), is(timestamps.subList(1, 2)));
+  }
+
   /**
    * @throws Exception
    */
@@ -150,6 +172,17 @@ public void testNextLine() throws Exception {
     assertThat(annotate(), is(timestamps.subList(1, 2)));
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @throws Exception
+   */
+  @Test
+  public void testNextLine_negativeLineNumber() throws Exception {
+    List<Timestamp> timestamps = writeTimestamps(2);
+    logPosition.lineNumber = -1;
+    logPosition.atNewLine = true;
+    assertThat(annotate(), is(timestamps.subList(1, 2)));
+  }
+
   /**
    * @throws Exception
    */